Volunteering During COVID-19

Volunteering During COVID-19

Volunteering

On this page, you can find information and guidance on a range of ways you can support others within the community during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Some local general guidance on volunteering and handwashing can be found HERE

Community Volunteers

COVID-19 VOLUNTEERS: WE HAVE CLOSED RECRUITMENT DUE TO LOTS OF YOU GETTING IN TOUCH TO HELP!

We will post more information here when we have it. Thanks for your patience.

If you are already a Safe + Well volunteer and wish to claim your travel expenses, use the form attached at the bottom of this page.

Other Ways to Help

Many people are looking to help others in their community at this difficult time, and much can be achieved by encouraging individuals to support their neighbours. (Thanks to Cumbria CVS for this factsheet).

The Eden Project Communities and partners have launched the Community Action Response to encourage everyone to do what they can to support their communities and particularly vulnerable and isolated people during the COVID-19 crisis. Download the Poster

Setting Up a Group to Provide Support

You may wish to get together with other volunteers to form a short term group to support the community during this time. COVID-19 Mutual Aid has created a site with some useful resources on how to go about it.

Cumbria CVS has produced some basic Volunteer Guidelines that you can use to share with your volunteers who may be helping neighbours informally & organised by local neighbours and the community - CLICK HERE

Funding for Volunteer Groups

Some of the support you are doing may need some funding to help. There are funders that have created specific pots of money that you can access to deliver your service.

Dog Walking Volunteers

You may also leave your house to provide care or help a vulnerable person. This includes walking a dog for someone who is unable to leave their house because they are self-isolating or being shielded. You should remember to wash your hands before and after handling the dog and keep 2 metres away from other people and animals, including when handing over the dog to the owner.

Protecting Your Health Whilst Volunteering

Whilst you want to help others and protect the community it's important to remember to protect yourself too.

Please remember:

Before volunteering, wash your hands with soap and water – do this for at least 20 seconds. Take sanitiser gel with you and use as and when appropriate when you don’t have access to soap and water and washing facilities

Stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people at all times - keep social distancing

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze

Put used tissues in the nearest bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards